Issued By
West Yorkshire Trading
Standards Service
COMBATING UNDERAGE SALES
West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service today (Wednesday 7th November) launches its Proof of Age Partnership, in an attempt to cut down on the increasing number of complaints from concerned West Yorkshire residents about the sales of age restricted products such as alcohol, fireworks, cigarettes, solvents and lottery tickets to children.
Working
in partnership with West Yorkshire Police, health professionals and schools,
Trading Standards Officers have issued Validate Proof of Age cards to youngsters
aged 16 to 18 at seven schools in the Pilot Area of East Leeds, which includes
Halton, Garforth, Swillington, Kippax, Gipton, Seacroft and Colton.
Retailers
in the area have been visited over the last few weeks and advised about the
implementation of the Scheme. They
have been encouraged to foster the NO CARD – NO SALE culture and refuse sales
to those youngsters who cannot produce the card to prove their age. Police Officers have visited licensed premises with the same
message.
Launching
the Partnership at Leeds United Football Club, who are fully supportive of this
valuable community initiative, Councillor Graham Clarke, Chair of West Yorkshire
Joint Services said “We have for many years been advising retailers on steps
to take to avoid making illegal sales of age-restricted goods and many have
claimed they have difficulty in establishing the true age of purchasers.
Now there are no excuses – all shopkeepers in the Pilot area are being
advised to refuse sales where no Proof of Age card is produced.”
Martin
Wood, Chief Officer of West Yorkshire Joint Services said “At present the only
conclusive forms of identification available to youngsters are passports and
driving licences. Birth
certificates give no guarantee that the person producing it is actually the
person named on the form. The Proof
of Age Partnership will ensure that 16 to 18 year olds have a credible way of
showing their age”
Chief
Superintendent Andrew Rennison,
Killingbeck Police Divisional Commander said “We believe this initiative will
have a major impact on anti-social behaviour involving teenagers.
We receive many calls about youths causing a nuisance and in many cases
their behaviour is fuelled by alcohol. This
Scheme should ensure that some of those aggravating factors are removed such as
alcohol and fireworks. We are keen
to work in partnership with West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service and other
organisations to improve the quality of life for people living in East Leeds”
Sir
Patrick McNair-Wilson of Photo-Me International PLC, Validate UK’s national
sponsor said “It’s great seeing West Yorkshire’s plan coming together and
the cards reaching young people. We
know that Validate can make a difference to both young people and retailers.
A very strong partnership
has been forged locally, spearheaded by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service
which has enabled a giant step forward in protecting young people in the area”
Youngsters
involved in the Pilot area have been entered into a free prize draw with prizes
including a VIP day at Leeds United, a personal computer, gift vouchers and
cameras. In addition, the
Validate card can be used as a discount card at various outlets supporting the
Scheme to buy stationery, music CDs, computer
games and clothing.
NOTES
TO EDITORS
The
Official Launch of the West Yorkshire Proof of Age Partnership takes place at 11
am on Wednesday 7th November 2001 at The Pavilion Stadium, Leeds
United Football Club. Leeds United
players will be attending to sign autographs for the youngsters present.
The seven schools
involved in the East Leeds Pilot area are:
Brigshaw High School, Copperfields College, Corpus Christi Catholic High,
Garforth Community College, Temple Moor High, Parklands Girls High and John
Smeaton Community High.
Anyone
wanting to report traders who they suspect are
selling age restricted products to children should telephone the West
Yorkshire Consumer Helpline on 0113 3 848 848.
For
further information contact
Paul
Cooper Divisional Manager 0113
2898240
Graham
Hebblethwaite Divisional Manager
0113 2898218